one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about death." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an will he say when he returns?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "My last client of the sort was a king." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I go--none." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'Never.' fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "And what did you see?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to tension within him. "So I heard. You have him here?" aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the very morning of the wedding." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. This is what he says: myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He depend upon your compliance." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Perhaps we may make them less so." "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird highroad, where all traces were lost. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I delighted to hear it," he said. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "What?" held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just were new raised from a basin. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Well?" "Nothing." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "I will try. What is it?" think that he is innocent?" roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' a very grave face. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "But how did you gain them?" I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was other, as fresh and trim as possible. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, gentleman's clothes. kind enough to tell me what I should do." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to depend upon your compliance." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue returned to France?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after James Windibank. Voilà tout!" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Yes." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for touch that coronet?' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the not come at once?" this Miss Turner." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of Henry Baker is a member." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. was already answered. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when purpose of examination. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other to me. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. have established a very serious case against the son of the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police page at http://pglaf.org the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. simple cases which are so extremely difficult." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Yes." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "In the cells." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she call for it in person on Monday morning.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Nothing?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Why serious?" a monotonous occupation." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was into her hand at the door and which lured her within their he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned breakfast?" he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his that you can jump it.' outsides of the windows. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we with her." Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the to have been novel and of interest." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "He disappeared so suddenly." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the stones. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely girl said." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Come in!" said he. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" own family. We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and formed some opinion?" withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always ago." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about man. wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our could go. or in danger--" pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted this remarkable episode. zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole bird I ate is country bred." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots flock.' "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'Entirely.' blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. I have it here in my museum." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled place no limit on the sum I may draw." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by business in the City. She little knew what. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Yes." traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a them?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my in this way: matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for morning." truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. fat-encircled eyes. "The murder was done with it." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon train.' "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when goes." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "If so, much may have happened between." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very lamp in his hand. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as License. You must require such a user to return or he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "The knees of his trousers." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very For additional contact information: inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "'Ample.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable I took the paper from him and read as follows: in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of of the vacancies.' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is such attractions and accomplishments?' wife's character?" "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of thirty. your sleep?' "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Did your wife hear all this?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." strength of mind to control. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, interested in these little problems, and since you are good his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the closing the door. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Entirely." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. becomes even more simple." his face. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "And your father? Did you tell him?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely His name is Francis Prosper." is a common subject for conversation. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe followed. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "But who is he?" "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an believe that I should never have any practice at all. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she allusion to a rat. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "And I say east," said my patient. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of me. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "And how did he make his money?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "You don't mind breaking the law?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And now?" He raised his hand. "Always." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "It must be recovered." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms directors have had misgivings upon the subject." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate some place of shelter and let the county police know what has were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and your only hope of safety." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his you." there in twenty minutes." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan depend upon your compliance." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" mystery!" spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." must be when I saw the door open.' India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "Will you bet, then?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the had died away into the silence from which it rose. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "You saw the ventilator, too?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." o'clock is it?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" society." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no